The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Hour 2: Fume Sucking From The Train of Chaos (feat. David Samson and Adnan Virk)
Thu, 29 May 2025
David Samson has achieved something awe-inspiring in the media space, so it's time for us to navel gaze ahead of playing another edition of "Would You Attend Their Funeral?" Then, it's time for another episode of The Pitch Clock a.k.a. Buzz the Tower. Chris and Jeremy square off in Taylor's Trivia while Adnan Virk gives us an assessment of where MLB stands post-Memorial Day, Tarik Skubal's unparalleled greatness, and The Big Dumper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Chapter 1: What is the significance of David Sampson's new deal?
Oh, you do? Okay. All right. I know a team that he was on, and it's the only one that I can think of at the moment. So I'm just going to say it, and I think I'm handing you a point here. I'm going to say Milwaukee Brewers. Yeah, I mean, that's the team he was known for. But then he got traded, right?
If you say yes and gave him when he was on the Brewers, this is just you. Was he on the Brewers?
Was he on the Brewers? Was he on the Brewers? He was not on the Brewers.
He was on the Seattle Mariners.
Seattle Mariners is correct. All right, 2-1 game. Honestly, Chris, that was well done. Back for a second week in a row. I believe our first ever repeat guest back-to-back weeks. It's Adnan Virk, our go-to 2025 MLB analyst. Adnan, thank you for being here. We're going to get right into this here because we're approaching the very end of the month of May.
We're past Memorial Day, and that's normally a time where you can take account of the standings and have some real takeaways about where this season is headed. So in the American League, it's the Yankees, Tigers and Mariners leading their divisions in the National League. It's the Phillies, Cubs and Dodgers. First, the American League standings. You take a look.
What is it that you see that stands out?
Well, first of all, I'm a freelancer right now with Metal Arc Media, so never apologize for having me on back-to-back. You're like, I'm not going to call you for five weeks. I go, no, please call me every week. I'm looking to get every dollar I can. So always a pleasure to catch up with you, buddy.
When I look at the standings, the first thought to me is that the New York Yankees have the largest division lead of any team right now in Major League Baseball. They're seven games up right now in the ALAs, and I feel like they're going to run away with it, right? It's amazing. They're not a good team. They've lost five straight games. They're 400-500. The Jays are too inconsistent.
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Chapter 2: How did David Sampson achieve success in the media space?
So in the 21st century, where are we putting Tarek Skubal at this point?
Because to me, he's really climbing up that list. If he wins the signing again this year and goes back-to-back, and I can't imagine him slowing down, barring an injury, I mean, a triple crown a season ago, that's awfully tough to top, and he's able to do it, it feels like right now. I'm glad you mentioned the match, particularly the efficiency to me when you're under 100 pitches like that.
There's so much for your rotation. And honestly, Detroit rotation in general has been so buoyed by having other guys now complimenting Scooble. Before it was Scooble and bullpen games all over the place. Now Flaherty is legit. Jackson Jobe, they've won nine of the 10 games that Jackson Jobe has started this year.
Obviously, Casey Mize has been better this year, and their offense now is much, much better. Riley Green looks like he's legit. Torkelson's had a huge comeback. Javi Baez is the comeback player of the year. So the Tigers, I mean, they feel like a legit team. And again, that's the other story right now in the American League is that they are the team to beat in the Central.
You know, the Twins, even with that incredible run that they've had, they still haven't been able to catch Detroit because they had such a bad start. And you're right, man. Scooble, when he's pitching, it's win day. He's must-see TV.
All right, time for our Golden Era Star of the Week. I've got two guys for you. I have a feeling I know which direction you're going to go. We've got Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners or Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Both guys out west having really, really good seasons.
Yeah, I'm going to go with Cal Raleigh, man. I mean, it doesn't matter whether it's the Big Kahuna, the Big Shore, or the Big Lebowski. I'm going to go with the Big Dumper because this guy... Unbelievable, buddy. 58 home runs he's on pace for, which would shatter the record by Salvia Perez, which was 47 by a catcher which was set just a few years ago.
Johnny Bench is the greatest catcher of all time. The most home runs he hit in a year was 45. So it looks like Raleigh's going to obliterate it. Eight home runs in 26 games at T-Mobile Park. He hit 11 in 77 games last year. So, so much for not being able to hit in Seattle. He's proven that you can do so. And if he gets one more home run...
He's going to have his fourth 20 home run season in his first five seasons. You're talking about a list with only Mike Piazza and Roy Campanella as catchers who have done that. And you and I can appreciate the nerdy aspects of it. His pitch framing is outstanding. He's among the top four catchers. The other guys are guys known for their defensive prowess, like Hedges and Alejandro Kirk.
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